I strongly believe that this…

I strongly believe that this bill should not be put into effect. I am against the provincial government having dominion over municipal decisions such as constructing new bike lanes if car lanes need to be reduced.

Loads of data exist that supports bike lanes actually reducing traffic congestion on municipal roads, contradictory to what this new bill implies. In comparison, building new car lanes, actually increases congestion over the years as more people take to the road as opposed to other means of transportation. We find ourselves running in the same circles by increasing car lanes instead of building the infrastructure that actually makes a difference for congestion. Give people more options of travel, and less people (especially single passenger vehicles) will take to the roads.

We already see the demand for the infrastructure in Toronto alone:

"Bike Share Toronto statistics show that ridership on its network of shared bikes has increased dramatically since 2015, when 665,000 bike trips were made annually. In 2023, that shot up to 5.7 million trips."
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/bike-lanes-impacts-1.7358319

We need to give these cyclists a safe way to travel around their city and not expect them to remain on the roads with drivers. There have been countless incidents where drivers have shown aggression or even violence towards cyclists on the road. Further, cyclists are also not allowed to take to sidewalks because it is dangerous for pedestrians. So, with such an increase of cyclists in our cities these days, where exactly are they expected to ride if the infrastructure gets taken away or new lanes may never get approved?

We have a difficult enough time in my city approving new routes and stops for our buses and I fear that giving the province governance over new bike infrastructure will only slow the process of making transportation less congested and smoother for everyone. Too many people take to driving as their main form of transportation because there is an overwhelming scarcity of other options available. If we build the bike lanes, people will use them. And with each new rider who can safely and efficiently travel in a bike lane, we remove one car from our ever increasingly congested roads.

For some personal feelings on this bill: I do not feel safe biking in my city.

I live in London Ontario and will avoid most roads where there is little to no biking infrastructure. However, this is unavoidable at times causing me to either risk my life riding on the road or take to the sidewalk because riding in rush hour traffic is too dangerous. If my city was able to develop the proper biking infrastructure (without first seeking provincial approval) I would bike everywhere I needed to go in London and I can confirm that is at least one less car on the road.

I fear this is the first step towards the end of new bike lane projects in the province entirely thus halting any attempt to reduce congestion on our roads. People need options for travel. Driving is not the only means of travel that people should desire/be expected to take.

Please leave these decisions up to the municipality that it actually affects.